By the Rev. Dan May

The most important day in the life of every Christian is when the Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts! Do you know the date of your Baptism? If you do, mark it on your calendar and rejoice in it on your special day! (If you don’t know, you can call the church where you were baptized, and they should have it in their records. If that doesn’t work, select an “anniversary date” to celebrate each year.) After all, this is the biggest day of your life, and it has eternal ramifications!

Romans 6 is always a favorite chapter for many of us because it describes the newness of life that God creates in Holy Baptism.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 ESV).

Baptism connects us with what Jesus accomplished on the cross at Calvary. His gift is His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins and for the newness of life. Our sins are buried that we might walk in the newness of life!

For many of us, that day of baptism was when we were held in the arms of our loving parents, and we were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! It's a day that we cannot remember and only visualize through family photographs, but it is a day to always be remembered and celebrated. However, there are many Christians who are baptized as adults. The Baptism of adults is especially exciting because they are well aware of the miraculous blessing that God gives in this sacrament.

It is my privilege to serve in several care facilities with many elderly residents. As part of our worship and Bible study, there is a frequent reference to Baptism and God’s call for everyone to be baptized.

After several years in one of our facilities, a man named “Larry” ask me about the possibility of being baptized even though he cannot actually leave the facility. I explained to him that we could do the Baptism within the facility and that all that was really required was God's Word and water. So, we arranged for the Baptism in the presence of the other residents who attend our worship in the Bible studies. He was very excited and thankful as were the other residents.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to be involved in Baptisms of elderly people on a number of occasions. Larry was 87 years old on the day that I baptized him, and he received the newness of life as surely as the infant at the baptismal font. He, like other adults and especially elderly adults, was filled with joy on the day of his Baptism. All who were present shared the joy of their faith with their families and other friends and acquaintances. It is a great joy to know that you are a beloved child of God, welcomed into this family through the Waters of Holy Baptism.

The New Testament records several incidents when adults and whole families were baptized, and they always rejoiced.

Act 16 tells us about the Apostle Paul and Silas who were in jail for preaching the Gospel. Wonderfully, God miraculously opened the doors of the jail. The jailer feared for his life because of the prisoners being set free, and yet he trusted what he had heard from Paul and Silas. He asked the biggest and most important question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” Acts 16:30-34 (ESV).

Worship Anew partners with Lutheran Senior Care Ministry (LSCM) in bringing the Holy Gospel to people who cannot attend church services. God does the miracle in Holy Baptism, and we are privileged to share it. Peter reminds us (1 Peter 3:21) of Baptism’s saving grace.

Rejoice in your Baptism every day! It is your best day forever!

Pastor Dan May serves as the Executive Chaplain for Lutheran Senior Care Ministries in Fort Wayne, Ind. He previously served as the Indiana District - LCMS President.